Douglas DC-4 / C-54 / R5D

In response to the requirements of five major US airlines, Douglas designed and built the large 52-passenger DC-4, which made its first flight on 7 June 1938. This type was not put into production; instead 61 smaller unpressurised development were ordered by American, Eastern and United Air Lines. This, too, bore the designation DC-4 and the original aeroplane became the DC-4E.

 

The DC-4 actually saw its first service as the wartime C-54 Skyrnaster (first flight 14 February 1942) when all 24 DC-4A built were taken by the armed forces (designated R5D Skymaster by the Navy).

The DC-4 had a retractable nosewheel undercarriage and was powered by four 820-1,080kW Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasps. It was a long-range heavy logistic transport with a payload of up to 9,980kg.

A total of 207 C-54A were built, followed by increased-capacity C-54B, similar C-54D with Pratt & Whitney R-2000-11 radials, C-54E with convertible cargo/passenger interiors, and C-54G with new engines. Nine hundred and fifty-two Skymasters were completed for the USAAF and 211 for the US Navy.

The C-54D--15DC (USAAF variant of the DC-4, with the DC suffix indicating Douglas Chicago) with four 1,200 hp Pratt and Whitney R2000-7 radials, was operational for the last year of WW2.

USAAF C-54s were allocated to the USN in July 1945; 92 so transferred.

The C-54Q had R2000-11 engines.

After the war Douglas built 79 civil DC-4-1009 and many of the military aircraft became available for airline operation - mostly with 44 seats but later with as many as 86. On 7 March 1946 American Airlines was first to introduce DC-4 on US domestic services, between New York and Los Angeles. However in October 1945 American Overseas Airlines had introduced DC-4 on North Atlantic services.

From it were developed the larger DC-6 and DC-7 series the Merlin-engined Canadair C-4 and the Aviation Traders Carvair nose -loading vehicle transport.

One, the VC-54C-DO Sacred Cow, served as President Roosevelt's special aircraft and a C-54B-1-DO was used by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

When production ceased in 1947, 1,242 had been built, of which hundreds served to re-equip civil airlines during the first postwar years.

In 1963 the Peruvian Air Force bought three DC-4B’s from US dealer Aircraft Corp of Charlotte, NC. Two for passenger transport and the third for use by Peru’s president.

Gallery

Variation:
Canadair C-54 / C-4 / C-5

DC-4
Engines: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-2000-SD13G Twin Wasp, 1,450 hp.
Wing span: 117 ft 6 in (35.80 m).
Length: 93 ft 11 in (28,63 m).
Gross weight: 73,000 lb (33,112 kg).
Typical cruising speed: 204 mph (328 kph) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m).
Accommodation: Crew of 5 plus 44-86 passengers.
Typical range: 2,140 miles (3,444 km) with max payload at 201 mph (323 kph).

DC-4
Engines: 4 x P&W R-2000-25, 1065kW
Max take-off weight: 33140 kg / 73062 lb
Empty weight: 20000 kg / 44093 lb
Wingspan: 35.8 m / 117 ft 5 in
Length: 28.6 m / 93 ft 10 in
Height: 8.4 m / 27 ft 7 in
Wing area: 136.0 sq.m / 1463.89 sq ft
Max. speed: 450 km/h / 280 mph
Cruise speed: 365 km/h / 227 mph
Ceiling: 6900 m / 22650 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 6000 km / 3728 miles
Range w/max.payload: 2200 km / 1367 miles
Crew: 4
Passengers: 40-44

Douglas C 54 B Skymaster
Engine : 4 x Pratt&Whitney R-2000-7, 1332 hp
Length : 93.93 ft / 28.63 m
Height : 27.526 ft / 8.39 m
Wingspan : 117.487 ft / 35.81 m
Wing area : 1462.935 sq.ft / 135.91 sq.m
Max take off weight : 73012.0 lb / 33112.0 kg
Weight empty : 38206.0 lb / 17327.0 kg
Max. speed : 238 kt / 441 km/h
Cruising speed : 208 kt / 385 km/h
Service ceiling : 21998 ft / 6705 m
Cruising altitude : 15207 ft / 4635 m
Wing load : 50.02 lb/sq.ft / 244.0 kg/sq.m
Range : 3389 nm / 6276 km

C-54M Skymaster
Engines: 4x Pratt & Whitney R2000-11, 1,350 h.p.
Wingspan: 117 ft. 6 in.
Length: 93 ft. 10 in.
Loaded weight: 73,000 lb
Max. speed: 274 m.p.h.
Ceiling: 22,500 ft.
Typical range: 1,500 miles at 220 mph at 10,000 ft.
Crew: 6
Capacity: 50 passengers, 30 strethers or cargo.

C-54D--15DC
Engines: 4 x Pratt and Whitney R2000-7, 1,200 hp.

C-54Q
Engines: 4 x Pratt and Whitney R2000-11.